Opinion No.

Office of the Attorney General — State of Texas John Cornyn Mr. James R. Hine Commissioner Texas Department of Human Services P.O. Box 149030 Austin, Texas 78714-9030

Re: Whether the Texas State Office of Administrative Hearings may order the Texas Department of Human Services to pay a licensee's attorney's fees after the SOAH dismissed an administrative action brought to revoke a license (RQ-0463-JC)

Dear Commissioner Hine:

In Texas, a party to an action may recover attorney's fees from an opposing party only if a statute or contract expressly permits such a recovery. See Travelers Indem. Co.…